Carolina Panthers rookie QB Matt Corral sidelined with torn ligament in foot

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Matt Corral likely will miss the 2022-23 season with what coach Matt Rhule called a «significant'' Lisfranc ligament tear.

»I would assume it would be a while; I would assume it would be a significant amount of time,'' Rhule said on Saturday. «I'm pretty sure it will be a long-term injury.''

Corral suffered the left foot injury in Friday night's preseason loss at New England.

A 2016 study in the „American Journal of Sports Medicine'' determined NFL players with Lisfranc injuries treated without surgery missed an average of 6.2 months recovering and those who underwent surgery missed an average of 11.6 months. Rhule said Corral, his family, agent and team doctors are exploring the best option.

In terms of the starting quarterback battle between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, Rhule still wasn't ready to name the winner, although multiple sources have said the job remains Mayfield's to lose.

Rhule also wasn't ready to say whether he would make that decision before Friday's preseason finale against Buffalo, but he did say “most, if not all, of the starters'' will play against the Bills.

Almost all of the starters, including Mayfield and Darnold, were held out of Friday's 20-10 loss to the Patriots.

Rhule said Corral's injury won't influence his decision on who plays against Buffalo. But he said it could influence whether the team keeps three quarterbacks as he said was the plan early in training camp.

Corral likely would have been the third quarterback behind Mayfield and Darnold. Carolina also has former XFL star PJ Walker, who is 2-0 as a starter for the Panthers the last two years.

Walker struggled with two interceptions and a lost fumble that resulted in a touchdown